He was walking better Monday, but still didn't practice
It doesn't look favorable that Pavel Datsyuk will be able to play in Game 3 tonight in Pittsburgh.
Datsyuk didn't participate in the optional morning skate Monday, although he looked to be walking with considerably less difficulty than in recent days.
"I haven't been in the medical room yet," Wings coach Mike Babcock said. "But they haven't told me anything.Datsyuk has missed five games since hurting his right foot blocking a shot in Game 2 of the Western Conference finals against Chicago.
Meanwhile, Babcock said Kris Draper ("lower-body" injury) is able to return, but might not crack the lineup.
"I don't know what I'm doing," Babcock said. "I'm not a big change guy, especially when things are going good. We'll see."
Draper was on the ice Monday and looked to be skating with full range of motion. He has been one of the top faceoff men for the Wings, but Babcock's decision to hold him out of the lineup could come down to the emergence of Darren Helm as a reliable faceoff option along with Henrik Zetterberg. Helm has won 22 of 32 faceoffs in the first two games and Zetterberg, 20 of 35.
Plus, the Wings lead the series, 2-0, and might not want to mess with a good thing.
*
Charged atmosphere
Marian Hossa knows what's coming.
He rebuffed a chance to stay with the Penguins in the offseason to, instead, sign a one-year, $7.45 million contract with the Wings. Hossa knew that in that single stroke of the pen, he became one of the most hated men in Pittsburgh.
When Detroit played at Mellon Arena on Feb. 8, his first game back in Pittsburgh since turning down a more lucrative deal to sign with Detroit, Hossa was welcomed to jeers, not-so-flattering signs and chants of "traitor."
"It's going to be similar, maybe even louder. That's how it's going to be," Hossa said, anticipating the atmosphere for tonight's Game 3. "I'll try to make sure it doesn't distract me. "(The first game) was very interesting and, you know, gave me a little extra energy.
"I'll try to use it to my advantage again."
Hossa scored in the Wings' 3-0 victory in February.
Ice chips
... Wings goaltender Chris Osgood has allowed one goal in four consecutive games. He has surrendered one goal or fewer in eight of 18 starts in these playoffs.
... Pittsburgh can only hope captain Sidney Crosby responds to a 2-0 deficit as he did last year in Game 3: He scored twice after failing to score or make an assist in the first two games.
... Pittsburgh was down, 0-2, to the Washington Capitals in an early playoff round and rebounded to win in seven.
It doesn't look favorable that Pavel Datsyuk will be able to play in Game 3 tonight in Pittsburgh.
Datsyuk didn't participate in the optional morning skate Monday, although he looked to be walking with considerably less difficulty than in recent days.
"I haven't been in the medical room yet," Wings coach Mike Babcock said. "But they haven't told me anything.Datsyuk has missed five games since hurting his right foot blocking a shot in Game 2 of the Western Conference finals against Chicago.
Meanwhile, Babcock said Kris Draper ("lower-body" injury) is able to return, but might not crack the lineup.
"I don't know what I'm doing," Babcock said. "I'm not a big change guy, especially when things are going good. We'll see."
Draper was on the ice Monday and looked to be skating with full range of motion. He has been one of the top faceoff men for the Wings, but Babcock's decision to hold him out of the lineup could come down to the emergence of Darren Helm as a reliable faceoff option along with Henrik Zetterberg. Helm has won 22 of 32 faceoffs in the first two games and Zetterberg, 20 of 35.
Plus, the Wings lead the series, 2-0, and might not want to mess with a good thing.
*
Charged atmosphere
Marian Hossa knows what's coming.
He rebuffed a chance to stay with the Penguins in the offseason to, instead, sign a one-year, $7.45 million contract with the Wings. Hossa knew that in that single stroke of the pen, he became one of the most hated men in Pittsburgh.
When Detroit played at Mellon Arena on Feb. 8, his first game back in Pittsburgh since turning down a more lucrative deal to sign with Detroit, Hossa was welcomed to jeers, not-so-flattering signs and chants of "traitor."
"It's going to be similar, maybe even louder. That's how it's going to be," Hossa said, anticipating the atmosphere for tonight's Game 3. "I'll try to make sure it doesn't distract me. "(The first game) was very interesting and, you know, gave me a little extra energy.
"I'll try to use it to my advantage again."
Hossa scored in the Wings' 3-0 victory in February.
Ice chips
... Wings goaltender Chris Osgood has allowed one goal in four consecutive games. He has surrendered one goal or fewer in eight of 18 starts in these playoffs.
... Pittsburgh can only hope captain Sidney Crosby responds to a 2-0 deficit as he did last year in Game 3: He scored twice after failing to score or make an assist in the first two games.
... Pittsburgh was down, 0-2, to the Washington Capitals in an early playoff round and rebounded to win in seven.
